Improvement in stockings



NFETERS. PHuTOMTuoGRAFHER, WASHINGTON, D12.A

UNITED 'STATES PATENT OEEIoE FERDINAND WOODWARD,`OF SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA.

'IMPROVEMENT IN STOCKINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 106,017, dated August 2,y 1870.

To all whom it may concern:

Beitknown thatl, FERDINAND WOODWARD, of Sacramento city and county, in the State of California, ln ve invented cert-ain new and `useful Improvements in Stockings, Socks, Ste.; and I hereby declare the following to be a full and exact description thereof, reference being a, had to the accompanying drawing, forming ankle `of one of my improved stockings are shown.

In making my improved stockings and socks I have found the machine called the American knittingmachine77 to answer a good purpose. It was patented to Dana Bickford, September l0, 1867, No. 68,595, and J nly21, 1868, No. 80,121. y These machines are provided with a device for lengthening and shortening the stitches at thewill of the operator, which peculiarly adapts them to the knitting of my improved stockings and socks, although Isuppose there are other machines upon which they may be knit with facility. With one of the above-mentioned machine I first knit the leg portion A; then shorten the stitches about one-fourth, more or less, and knit about one andahalf inch to it closely around the ankle, as shown between B and C. I then lengt-hen the stitches to about one and a half time the length they are in the leg, and

add one or more tine threads of the same or some other material to maintain the thickness of the fabric, notwithstanding the increased length of the stitches, and knit about three inches in length, orfrom UtoD; then shorten the stitches to about the length they were between B and- C, and knit one and a half inch in length to fit around the middle of the foot, from D toE, and then increasethe length of the stitches to about what they are in the leg, and knit the foot and toe; then drop all the stitches and remove the stocking or sock from the machine, and, with a. round or blunt pointed darningneedle and yarn, pick up all the stitches and draw up the opening to about one inch in diameter, and then stitch across and athwart the opening until it is closed, which completes the toe of the stocking.

By the foregoing it is apparent that my improved stockings and socks are knit straight, or Without widenin g or narrowing, by increasing or diminishing the number of stitches; but when drawn upon the foot, either side forward, the portion with long stitches, between C and D, surrounding the heel and instep, stretches easily and conforms readily to the part covered, while the part betWeenB and C contracts closely around the ankle, and the part from D to E contracts closely around thatpart of the foot before'the heel, making the fwhole to adjust and t around the ankle and foot, While the opening closed by darning comes beneath the toes, so as to make it easy and comfortable to the foot.

My improvements are applicable to stockings knit flat as Well as circular, and will bc found of great advantage.

I think, in knitting the heel portion of Woolen stockings, it is better to add a thread of cotton than wool.

My improved stockings, by being reversed when washed, so as to bring a different portion under the foot, will wear much longer than stockings that are not reversible, and they can be made `with less labor and far cheaper than the stockings usually found in the market.

What I claim is- A stocking in which the stitches are shortcned for the ankle and lengthened for the heel and instep, and in which one or more threads are added to the yarn at thc part-s where the stitches are lengthened to maintain the thickness of the stocking, all as described.

` FERDINAND VVOODWARD. Witnesses:

WM. ELLIS, Tnos. W. GILMEE. 

